208 TRAVELS IN THE 
very large lion, said he; and made signs for me to ride away. 
But my horse was too much fatigued : so we rode slowly past 
the bush, from which the animal had given us the alarm. Not 
seeing any thing myself, however, I thought my guide had 
been mistaken, when the Foulah suddenly put his hand to his 
mouth, exclaiming, Soubah an allahi, (God preserve us !) and to 
my great surprise, I then perceived a large red lion, at a short 
distance from the bush, with his head couched between his fore 
paws. I expected he would instantly spring upon me, and 
instinctively pulled my feet from my stirrups, to throw myself 
on the ground, that my horse might become the victim, rather 
than myself. But it is probable the lion was not hungry; for 
he quietly suffered us to pass, though we were fairly within his 
reach. My eyes were so riveted upon this sovereign of the 
beasts, that I found it impossible to remove them, until we 
were at a considerable distance. We now took a circuitous 
route, through some swampy ground, to avoid any more of 
these disagreeable rencounters. At sunset we arrived at Modi- 
boo; a delightful village on the banks of the Niger, command- 
ing a view of the river for many miles, both to the east and 
west. The small green islands (the peaceful retreat of some 
industrious Foulahs, whose cattle are here secure from the 
depredations of wild beasts), and the majestic breadth of the 
river, which is here much larger than at Sego, render the 
situation one of the most enchanting in the world. Here are 
caught great plenty of fish, by means of long cotton nets, 
which the natives make themselves; and use nearly in the 
same manner as nets are used in Europe. I observed the head 
